Ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has stalled European Union’s (EU) latest sanctions package to pressure Vladimir Putin over a dispute with Ukraine about an oil pipeline.
Ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has stalled European Union’s (EU) latest sanctions package to pressure Vladimir Putin over a dispute with Ukraine about an oil pipeline.
EU foreign minister Kaja Kallas on Monday said she did not expect the bloc to pass the sanctions today.
“I think there is not going to be progress regarding this today, but we will definitely make this push,” said Kallas at the start of a meeting of EU’s foreign ministers.
Vicktor Orban, the far-right Prime Minister of Hungary, has emerged as Putin’s foremost ally in the EU and has frequently stalled the bloc’s moves to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine and shadow war on Europe.
In the latest salvo, Orban has vetoed EU’s sanctions package until the reopening of Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary through Ukraine. Ukraine has said that the supply has been disrupted from Russian strikes that damaged the pipeline last month.
In the latest sanctions package, the EU has proposed banning shipping services for Russian crude oil to further squeeze the revenue to fund the war on Ukraine. The EU has so far passed 19 packages of sanctions since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Hungary has also emerged as a hurdle in the passage of a €90-billion EU loan for Ukraine.
EU member-states have openly criticised Hungary but Orban has not budged.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was “astonished” by Hungary’s position.
“We will discuss this with our Hungarian colleagues. I am also confident that, at the end of the day, we will be successful,” said Wadephul.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said “there is no actually reason to block” the sanctions package as the pipeline closure was a result of Russian airstrikes and was not by any Ukrainian action.
“If we are not able to put the sanctions on Russia, then Russia will be happy,” said Tsahkna.
Similarly, Polish Foreign Minister called the Hungarian position “shocking”.
End of Article
